Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2014/15 Group Phase Draw

Transcription

1 Media Guide Season 2014/15 Group Phase Draw

2 Table of contents Media contacts 3 Preview 4 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 5 Seeding list 6 POT 1 THW Kiel 7 FC Barcelona 8 MKB-MVM Veszprem 9 KS Vive Targi Kielce 10 POT 2 KIF Kolding 11 HC Metalurg 12 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 13 Dunkerque Grand Littoral 14 POT 3 HC Zagreb 15 Chekhovskie Medvedi 16 Kadetten Schaffhausen 17 Alingsas HK 18 POT 4 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 20 Naturhouse La Rioja 21 Pick Szeged 22 Orlen Wisla Plock 23 POT 5 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 24 Aalborg Handbold 25 HC Vardar 26 PSG HB 27 POT6 Montpellier 28 Past winners 29 2

3 EHF/M Media contacts Media matters Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation brindzak@eurohandball.com TV and Radio Akos Moczan Media Manager EHF Marketing GmbH moczan@ehfmarketing.com Clubs Media contacts POT 1 POT 2 POT 3 POT 4 THW Kiel (GER) Christian Robohm christian.robohm@thw-handball.de KIF Kolding København (DEN) Thomas Christensen tc@kif.dk RK Zagreb (CRO) Goran Roknić glasnogovornik@rk zagreb.hr Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) Ute Krebs krebs@rhein-neckar-loewen.de FC Barcelona (ESP) Gustau Galvache gustau.galvache@fcbarcelona.cat HC Metalurg (MKD) Zoran Cvetanovski zoran.cvetanovski@gmail.com Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) Benjamin Kuznetsov benkuz@gmail.com Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez naturhouselarioja.ehf@gmail.com MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN) Zsolt Sevinger mkbveszpremkezilabdazrt@ upcmail.hu Vive Targi Kielce (POL) Sebastian Kozubek s.kozubek@vivetargi.pl RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) Nejc Ajdnik nejc.ajdnik@rk-celje.si Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) Melanie Lefevbre melanie.lefebvre@usdk.fr Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) Barbara Imobersteg imo.schule@gmx.ch Alingsas HK (SWE) Christer Martensson christer.martensson@ahk.nu Pick Szeged (HUN) Nandor Szögi nandor.szogi@pickhandball.hu Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Piotr Raczkowski Tel: sekretariat@sprwislaplock.pl POT 5 POT 6 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Sandra von Wallis s.vonwallis@ sg-flensburg-handewitt.de Montpellier (FRA) Suzy Demonte suzy.demonte@montpellierhandball.com Aalborg Handball (DEN) Poul Madsbjerg pm@aalborghaandbold.dk RK Vardar PRO Skopje (MKD) Marko Savovski markosavovski@live.com PSG Handball (FRA) Louise Cosnard +33 (0) lcosnard@psg.fr 3

4 Seeding for group phase draw confirmed Following last Friday s decision on the teams taking part in the in the 2014/15 season, the European Handball Federation has announced the seeding of teams for both the qualification and the group phase draw this week. The qualification draw took place on Thursday, 26 June 2014 at 14:00 hrs. at the EHF Office in Vienna, the group phase draw will follow on Friday, 27 June 2014 at 18:00 hrs. at the Gartenhotel Altmannsdorf in Vienna. Three tickets from qualification The qualification will be played on 6 and 7 September in three tournaments, the winners of which will be awarded with a place in the group phase. The matches from each tournament will be played in one venue with two semi-finals, where teams from Pot 4 will meet teams from Pot 1 and teams from Pot 3 will face teams from Pot 2, followed by finals. The pairings and the right to organise tournaments will be drawn on 26 June. Pot 1: HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR), HC Meshkov Brest (BLR), HCM Constanta (ROU) Pot 2: RK Vojvodina (SRB), FC Porto (POR), Haslum HK (NOR) Pot 3: Tatran Presov (SVK), Alpla HC Hard (AUT), Besiktas JK (TUR) Pot 4: Targos Bevo HC (NED), Initia Hasselt (BEL), Junior Fasano (ITA) Kiel, Barcelona, Veszprem and Kielce in the top pot The group phase draw will follow one day after the qualification draw. 21 directly seeded teams plus three qualification group winners will be divided into six pots with four teams in each pot. Teams will not be able to face opponents from the same country in the group Pot 1: THW Kiel (GER), FC Barcelona (ESP), MKB-MVM Veszprem (HUN), KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) Pot 2: KIF Kolding (DEN), HC Metalurg (MKD), RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO), Dunkerque Grand Littoral (FRA) Pot 3: RK Zagreb (CRO), Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS), Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI), Alingsas HK (SWE) Pot 4: Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER), Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP), Pick Szeged (HUN), Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) Pot 5: SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER), Aalborg Handbold (DEN), HC Vardar (MKD), PSG HB (FRA) Pot 6: Montpellier AH (FRA), winner Qualification Group 1, winner Qualification Group 2, winner Qualification Group 3 Junior to test Motor after qualification draw Both debutants of the European top flight face a stern test after the draw at the EHF Office in Vienna has determined the three qualification groups. Michael Wiederer, EHF Secretary General carried out the draw, which also determined the right to organise the tournaments on 6-7 September. While the Dutch champions Targos Bevo HC will head for Belarus to face the hosts of Brest Meshkov in the Group 1 semi-final, the other newcomer Junior Fasano in the Group 2 semi-final will meet HC Motor Zaporozhye, who reached the Last 16 in the previous season and were eliminated by eventual runners-up from Kiel. The second semi-final pairing in Meshkov consists of the host club Vojvodina and Slovakian champions Tatran Presov. In Group 2, which is to be played in Hard, Austria, the home side Alpla meet FC Porto, who showed an impressive performance in their EHF Champions League premiere last season. The Turkish champions Besiktas Istanbul have earned the right to host the Group 3 tournament. In the semi-final they will face Norwegian title holders Haslum HK, who they eliminated two years ago on the way to the EHF Cup Group Phase after coming back from 11-goal deficit. Only the winners of each group will make their way to the next phase. The group phase draw will take place on Friday, 27 June from 18:00 hrs at the Gartenhotel Altmannsdorf in Vienna. Semi-final pairings of the Qualification: Group 1 1-Brest Meshkov (BLR) vs 4-Targos Bevo HC (NED) 2-HC Vojvodina Novi Sad (SRB) vs 3-Tatran Presov (SVK) Group 2 1-HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs 4-Junior Fasano (ITA) 2-FC Porto (POR) vs 3-Alpla HC Hard (AUT) Group 3 1-HCM Constanta (ROU) vs 4-Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL) 2-Haslum HK (NOR) vs 3-Besiktas JK (TUR) Order of the right to host tournaments: Row 3*, Row 1, Row 4, Row 2 * as Presov hosted the qualification group last year, their right passed automatically to Row 1 (Brest Meshkov) In the other semi-final the last season s EHF Cup Finals participants HCM Constanta from Romania play against the Belgian team Hubo Initia Hasselt, who return to the Champions League after 14 seasons. 4

5 2014/15 playing system Qualification Tournaments Group Phase Last 16 Quarter-finals FINAL4 4 vs. 1 vs. vs. 3 vs. 2 vs. vs. 2 vs. 1 vs. vs. Semi-finals vs. vs. 3 rd Place Match vs. vs. vs. vs. Home Matches 5 Total Matches Final vs. Season 2014/15 playing dates Qualification Tournaments Group Phase Last 16 Quarter-finals FINAL4 12 teams 4 groups with 6 teams each 16 teams 8 teams 4 teams 3 tournaments with semi-finals and finals first leg second leg first leg second leg /

6 VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15 Qualification Tournaments Group Phase 4 groups with 6 teams Last teams Quarterfinals 8 teams FINAL4 4 teams (1) 06./ (2) / tournaments (3) first leg first leg tournament (4) NATION (5) played in semi finals and finals 1 GER 1 THW Kiel 2 ESP 1 FC Barcelona 3 HUN 1 MKB MVM Veszprem 4 POL 1 KS VIVE Targi Kielce 5 DEN 1 KIF Kolding 6 MKD 1 HC Metalurg 7 SLO 1 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 8 FRA 1 Dunkerque Grand Littoral 9 CRO 1 RK Zagreb 10 RUS 1 Chekhovskie Medvedi 11 SUI 1 Kadetten Schaffhausen 12 SWE 1 Alingsas HK 13 GER 2 Rhein Neckar Löwen 14 ESP 2 Naturhouse La Rioja 15 HUN 2 Pick Szeged 16 POL 2 Orlen Wisla Plock S.A. 17 GER 3 SG Flensburg Handewitt 18 DEN 2 Aalborg Handbold 19 MKD 2 HC Vardar 20 FRA 2 PSG HB 21 FRA 3 Montpellier AH 22 UKR 1 HC Motor Zaporozhye 23 BLR 1 HC Meshkov Brest 24 ROU 1 HCM Constanta 25 SRB 1 RK Vojvodina 26 POR 1 FC Porto 27 NOR 1 Haslum HK 28 SVK 1 Tatran Presov 29 AUT 1 Alpla HC Hard 30 TUR 1 Besiktas JK 31 NED 1 Targos Bevo HC 32 BEL 1 Initia Hasselt 33 ITA 1 Junior Fasano 3 groups with 4 teams 4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to the EHF Cup Qualification Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to the EHF Cup Qualification Rd (6) (7) (8) (9) second leg second leg (10) DRAWS: 26 June 2014 in Vienna 27 June 2014 in Vienna 24 February March April 2015 Winners of the 3 Qualification tournaments 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed team from each group 8 Winners of Last 16 4 Winners of Quarterfinals status:

7 POT 1 THW Kiel (GER) Kiel took their 19th Bundesliga title after one of the most thrilling and nail-biting final rounds in years. Before the last match day, Rhein-Neckar Löwen and Kiel were equal on points, as the two contenders had been for several rounds. In case of a win for both teams, the title was to be decided through goal difference, and in this aspect, the Lions were seven goals better than the Zebras after 33 of the 34 rounds. However, Rhein-Neckar Löwen s 40:35 away win against VfL Gummersbach was not enough to maintain the lead against Kiel until the end. Through a 37:23 win against Füchse Berlin at home in the Sparkassen Arena, Kiel finished two goals better than their rivals and the record champions could celebrate yet another title. Sparkassen-Arena-Kiel Europaplatz 1, Kiel Germany Capacity: 10,000 THW Kiel Ziegelteich Kiel Germany Christian Robohm christian.robohm@thw-handball.de season): 18 Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 Runners-up (4): 1999/2000, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14 Semi-final (3): 1996/1997, 2000/01, 2012/13 Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11 Group Phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 EHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 German league: 19 titles (1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) German cup: 9 titles Website: Facebook: thwhandball Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: green Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: red 7

8 POT 1 FC Barcelona (ESP) No team has ever won a Spanish league as clearly as FC Barcelona last season. With their superstar team, the Blaugranas won every single game quite clearly and were already crowned champions six games before the end. With the league s best defence and attack, Barcelona let nothing slip, winning their games by an average of twelve goals. After their third place last season, Naturhouse La Rioja this time finished second, still thirteen points behind the champions and will also take part in the next season. Legendary left winger and the all-time Asobal top scorer Juanin said his farewell to Barcelona at the last VELUX EHF FINAL4 and will be replaced by THW Kiel iconic Icelander Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson. Palau Blaugrana Av. Aristides Maillol, s/n Barcelona Spain Capacity: 7,250 FC Barcelona Intersport Avda. Aristides Maillol, s/n Barcelona Spain Gustau Galvache gustau.galvache@fcbarcelona.cat season): 18 Winner (7): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2004/05, 2010/11 Final (3): 2000/01, 2009/10, 2012/13 Semi-final (2): 2007/08, 2013/14 Quarter-final (3): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2011/12 Last 16 (1): 2003/04 Main Round (1): 2008/09 EHF Cup: Winners 2002/03, Runners-up 2001/02 Cup Winners Cup: Winners 1993/94, 1994/95 Spanish league: 21 titles (1969, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Spanish cup: 18 titles Asobal cup: 9 titles Website: Facebook: FCBHandbol Player shirt: red and yellow Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: green/grey Player shirt: blue and red Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black/dark red 8

9 POT 1 MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) VELUX EHF FINAL4 participants Veszprem added another domestic title to the collection after going neck and neck with Pick Szeged throughout the season. Both frontrunners shared the spoils against each other with one win each during the regular season and were separated at the top only by goal difference with Veszprem taking first place. After comfortable wins in the semi-finals, the two sides were set to meet again. Carlos Ortega s men took the first game 30:21 at home and while the second game in Szeged was less clear, Veszprem managed to take a 28:24 win and retained their title. Runners-up Pick Szeged made up for their disappointment by winning the EHF Cup a week later in Berlin and will take part in the 2014/15 after a one-year absence. Veszprém Arena Külso Kadartai ut 8200 Veszprém Hungary Capacity: 5,020 MKB-MVM Veszprém Marcius 15. ut Veszprém Hungary Zsolt Sevinger mkbveszprem@chello.hu season): 20 Final (1): 2001/02 Semi-final (3): 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14 Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Last 16 (2): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12 Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08 Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2007/08, Runners-up 1996/97 Hungarian league: 22 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Hungarian cup: 23 titles Website: Facebook: mkbveszpremkc Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black 9

10 POT 1 KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) Kielce steamrolled all their opponents on the way to their eleventh national championship title in the Polish Ekstraklasa. After winning all 22 games in the regular season with a perfect record of 44 points, they lived up to their highest expectations in the play-off too eliminating Kwidzyn in the quarter-finals (2:0 in a best-of-three series) and Azoty-Pulawy in the semi-finals (3:0 in a best-of-five). In the final they faced Wisla Plock once again, after having played and won already two games in the regular season, another two in the Champions League and one in a very narrow Polish Cup final in Warsaw (33:32). Plock showed a very formidable fashion before the final series not only in the cup final and the European encounters. In the second game Kielce escaped a surprising setback after extra-time, but could not avoid their first domestic defeat of the season in game 3 at the river Vistula. They clinched the first Polish title for their coach Talant Dujshebaev, who replaced Bogdan Wenta halfway through the regular season, in the fourth match, winning the best-of-five series 3:1. Hala M.O.S.I.R Legionów ul. Boczna 15A Kielce Poland Capacity: 4,000 KS Vive Targi Kielce ul. Robotnicza Kielce Poland season): 12 Semi-final (1): 2012/13 Last 16 (5): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14 Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Group Matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11 EC records: 11 participations in other ECs Polish league: 11 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) Polish cup: 11 titles Sebastian Kozubek s.kozubek@vivetargi.pl Website: Facebook: vivetargikielce Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: green 10

11 POT 2 KIF Kolding København (DEN) The finals of the Danish championship were a repeat of 2013, but with the opposite outcome. Last season, Aalborg Handball won both legs of the final against KIF Kolding København clearly, this time it was the other way round. Both teams were missing several players due to injury, but KIF were best at coping with the injury problems and made things more or less clear in the first match, as they won 23:18 at Gigantium in Aalborg. Even though the second leg in the Trefor Arena of Kolding became a considerably more equal affair, KIF won that match as well 19:17, which meant that KIF could celebrate their 13th Danish championship through a 42:35 win on aggregate. TRE-FOR Arena Ambolten Kolding Denmark Capacity: 2,800 KIF Kolding København Ambolten Kolding Denmark season): 12 Semi-final (1): 2001/02 Quarter-final (1): 2002/03 Last 16 (7): 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2013/14 Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Group Phase (1): 1994/95 Cup Winners Cup: Semi-final 1999/2000, Quarter-final 2007/08 EHF Cup: Quarter-final 2012/13 Danish league: 13 titles (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014) Danish cup: 8 titles Thomas Christensen tc@kif.dk Website: Facebook: KIFKBH Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: orange/blue 11

12 POT 2 HC Metalurg (MKD) Due to their participation in the SEHA league, the two heavy favourites for the Macedonian league Vardar and Metalurg only joined at the play-off stage. The two duels between these teams decided the new champion as no other team could seriously challenge the pair. In their first meeting, Vardar managed to win 25:24, but Metalurg dominated the return fixture and took a significant 30:21 victory. The rest of the championship turned out to be just a formality with easy matches for both teams and with both teams ending the championship on the same number of points, Metalurg s better goal difference in the matches between these two teams saw them take championship gold from Vardar s grasp. Boris Trajkovski bul. 8 Septemvri bb Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 7,000 season): 7 Quarter-final (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 Last 16 (1): 2011/12 Group Matches (2): 2006/07, 2008/09 Qualification (1): 2010/11 9 participations in other EC Macedonian league: 6 titles (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) Macedonian cup: 5 titles HC Metalurg ul. Jane Lukroski Skopje FYR Macedonia Zoran Cvetanovski zoran.cvetanovski@gmail.com Website: Facebook: rkmetalurgofficial Player shirt: white Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/orange/white Player shirt: blue Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue 12

13 POT 2 Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) In Slovenia, it was RK Celje Pivovarna Laško who put the considerably weakened defending champions RK Gorenje Velenje to the sword, having won their deciding duel 36:27. Celje was narrowly knocked out in the Last 16 of the by SG Flensburg-Handewitt (who went on to become champions), but got over this disappointment to win their 18th domestic title after a turnaround in Celje, ending a three-year trophy draught. It was the second consecutive title for RK Celje Pivovarna Laško coach Branko Tamše, as the former RK Gorenje Velenje tactician made a switch at the end of last season, to bring the Slovenian powerhouse from Celje back to the top. Dvorana Zlatorog Opekarinska cesta Celje Slovenia Capacity: 5,830 Celje Pivovarna Laško Opekarniska Cesta Celje Slovenia Nejc Ajdnik nejc.ajdnik@rk-celje.si season): 20 Winner (1): 2003/04 Semi-final (6): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2004/05 Quarter-final (2): 2001/02, 2005/06 Last 16 (4): 1995/96, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase (3): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2010/11 Qualification (1): 2009/10 Cup Winners Cup: Semi-final 2002/02, 2011/12 Slovenian league: 19 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014) Slovenian cup: 18 titles Website: Facebook: rkceljepivovarnalasko Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black 13

14 POT 2 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) After finishing second last season, Dunkerque managed to grab its first French champion title in Beating PSG and Montpellier twice, their league triumph suffered no discussion and comes two years after their win in the national cup. This title is a just reward for a squad that has been together a few seasons now, but struggled in the last season. Coach Patrick Cazal has claimed that he aims to come back stronger next season in the competition and improve upon their three-point haul. Thanks to a thrilling final round of games, PSG finished second and Montpellier third. The EHF Cup finalists were in a set to end up right behind Dunkerque, but lost their last decisive match in Chambéry (30:33) while PSG coasted past Cesson-Rennes (34:27) and into second place. season): 3 Group Phase (1): 2013/14 Qualification (1): 2011/12 Stades de Flandres Avenue de Rosendael Dunkerque France Capacity: 2,500 Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral Avenue de Rosendael - B.P Dunkerque cedex 1 France EHF Cup: Finals 2011/12, Quarter-final 2006/07, 2007/07, 2009/10 Challenge Cup: Runners-up 2003/04 City-Cup: Quarter-final 1998/99, 1999/2000 French league: 1 title (2014) French Champions Trophy: 1 title (2012) French cup: 1 title French League cup: 1 title Melanie Lefevbre melanie.lefebvre@usdk.fr Website: Facebook: DunkerqueHandball Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: black/red Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/red 14

15 POT 3 HC Zagreb (CRO) HC Zagreb again proved their dominance, after defending the title to lift their 23rd Croatian championship trophy, following a 31:25 away win against the runners-up RK Nexe in Našice. In the wake of their crucial win against Nexe, which finished runners-up for the sixth consecutive season, HC Zagreb put an end to all hopes of an upset in the title race. Zagreb, still yet to lose a domestic title since the competition was established in 1991, put a convincing performance in their final play-off match against RK Karlovac. In Arena Zagreb, the home team won 33:23, thus allowing the Croatian league trophy to remain in Zagreb for yet another season. Arena Zagreb Laniste b.b., Zagreb Croatia Capacity: 15,200 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb Veprinecka Zagreb Croatia Goran Roknić glasnogovornik@rk zagreb.hr season): 21 Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 Semi-final (1): 1999/00 Quarter-final (6): 1995/96, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12 Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (5): 1993/94, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2013/14 EHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05 Cup Winners Cup: Semi-final 2006/07 SEHA League: 1 title (2013) Croatian league: 24 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Croatian cup: 22 titles Website: Facebook: RK-Zagreb Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: blue Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red 15

16 POT 3 Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) The domination of Chekovskie Medvedi in the Russian championship continued as Vladimir Maximov s team took their thirteenth title in a row. Although the team had a much younger roster compared to the previous season, they faced little opposition on the way to the finals, winning twenty out of twenty-two matches in the preliminary round. In the final series Chekovskie Medvedi faced Universitet-Neva. In the first game, Neva snatched the win after a penalty shootout. However, the champions regained their composure in the following two matches and showed their superiority with two home victories 30:23 and 24:18 to take the title. Sport Hall Olimpiyskiy Chekhov Poligrafistov Str Chekhov Russia Capacity: 3,000 Chekhovskie Medvedi Poligrafistov str Chekhov, Mosk. oblast Russia season): 14 Semi-final (1): 2009/10 Quarter-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 Last 16 (3): 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (6): 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2011/12 Cup Winners Cup: Winner 2005/06 Russian league: 13 titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Russian cup: 12 titles Benjamin Kuznetsov benkuz@gmail.com Website: Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Player shirt: purple Player short: purple Goalkeeper shirt: red 16

17 POT 3 Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) A year after losing the finals to Wacker Thun, Kadetten Schaffhausen were in no mood to make the same mistake twice. After finishing one point behind Pfadi Winterthur at the top of the regular season table and once again by the end of the championship round, Kadetten kicked into gear in the semi-finals against Kriens-Luzern, wasting no time in the best-of-five series and set up a showdown with the side who had bested them throughout the year. Pfadi Winterthur had the home advantage, but it counted for very little against Kadetten who won two away games and a home tie in between to take the series 3:0 and see themselves back into the after one season away. BBC Arena Schweizersbildstr Schaffhausen Switzerland Capacity: 3,000 Kadetten Schaffhausen Schweizersbildstrasse Schaffhausen Switzerland season): 8 Last 16 (2): 2010/11, 2011/12 Group Phase (4): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2012/13 Qualification (1): 2009/10 EHF Cup: final 2009/10 Cup Winners Cup: semi-final: 2007/08 Swiss league: 7 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) Swiss cup: 7 titles Barbara Imobersteg imo.schule@gmx.ch Website: Facebook: kadettensh Player shirt: orange Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Player shirt: black Player short: orange Goalkeeper shirt: green 17

18 POT 3 Alingsas HK (SWE) While quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Swedish championship play-off are played as best of five, the final is decided in only one match. This year the final was played in the Malmö Arena between Alingsås HK and EHF Cup quarterfinalists Lugi HF. Lugi were leading most of the time, and were even three goals up at 22:19 with ten minutes left, but through five unanswered goals at the end, Alingsås managed to take the title for the second time in the club s history, after their first triumph in season): 2 Group Phase (1): 2009/10 * Estrad Arena Lillagatan Alingsas Sweden Capacity: 2,000 * to be confirmed EHF Cup: Last /00 Swedish league: 2 titles (2009, 2014) Alingsas HK Nolhaga alle 12 A Alingsas Sweden Christer Martensson christer.martensson@ahk.nu Website: Facebook: AlingsasHK Player shirt: light green Player short: light green Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red 18

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20 POT 4 Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) After the closest race at the top of the Bundesliga in many years, Rhein-Neckar Löwen had to see THW Kiel run away with the trophy for the 19th time in history after all. Having taken turns with Kiel on leading the Bundesliga on goal difference during the last rounds, Rhein-Neckar Löwen had a seven goal lead over Kiel before the final gameday, but the Lions win was not enough to match Kiel s 37:23 home win against Füchse Berlin which left the North German Zebras two goals ahead of Rhein-Neckar and saw them snatch the trophy. SAP Arena Xaver-Fuhr-Str Mannheim Germany Capacity: 12,900 season): 6 Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14 Qualification (1): 2011/12 Cup Winners Cup: Runners-up 2007/08 EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, semi-final 2011/12, quarter-final 2006/07 Rhein-Neckar Löwen Mollstraße 49a Mannheim Germany Ute Krebs krebs@rhein-neckar-loewen.de Website: Facebook: rnloewen Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: white/red Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: blue/green 20

21 POT 4 Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) In a season which saw Barcelona win every one of its games, Naturhouse La Rioja managed to finish second and to qualify for the second season at Europe s top table in a row. It was no easy task though, since the team from Logrono had to battle with historically strong clubs from the Asobal, such as Léon and Granollers. Only conceding one draw and a defeat in the 2014 year, Logrono proved it has now moved from an average team to perhaps the only one able to bother Barcelona. With a strong defence, fast wingers and an experienced team (only five players from the roster are under 28 years old), Logrono look to progress further than the group phase this time around. Their recruits match their ambitions, since the Spanish side managed to sign both Juanin Garcia and Albert Rocas, former Barcelona wingers, who hope to repeat some of the success they had in their former club. season): 2 Group phase (1): 2013/14 Palacio de los Deportes de la Rioja Avenida Moncalvillo 2 Logrono Spain Capacity: 3,500 EHF Cup: semi-final 2009/10, 2010/11, Group Phase 2012/13 Spanish league: - (runners-up 2014) Spanish cup: - (runners-up 2013) Naturhouse La Rioja Avenida de Moncalvillo Logrono Spain Jaime Luis Gonzalez Gutierrez naturhouselarioja.ehf@gmail.com Website: Facebook: Club-Balonmano-Naturhouse-La-Rioja Player shirt: white Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Player shirt: green Player short: green Goalkeeper shirt: grey 21

22 POT 4 Pick Szeged (HUN) Hungary s perennial runners-up gave champions Veszprem a serious run for their money in the domestic league this season. The sides remained side by side at the top of the league throughout the season, with Szeged relegated to second place on account of their inferior goal difference after they ended the season level on points. After comfortable wins in the semi-finals, the two sides were set to meet again. Szeged were unable to exert any significant pressure on their opponent s home court and went down 30:21. While the second game in Szeged was a tighter affair, Veszprem managed to take a 28:24 win and retained their title. Pick Szeged made up for their disappointment by winning the EHF Cup a week later in Berlin. They were the surprise package of the event, first defeating home side Füchse Berlin, followed by a win in the final against favourites Montpellier. Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged Temesvari Krt Szeged Hungary Capacity: 3,200 Pick Szeged Deák Ferenc u Szeged Hungary season): 13 Quarter-final (2): 1996/97, 2003/04 Last 16 (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2010/11, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (3): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12 Qualification (1): 2013/14 EHF Cup: quarter-final 2000/01, Last /95, 1999/2000 Cup Winners Cup: semi-final 1993/94, quarter-final 2002/03, 2008/09 Hungarian league: 2 titles (1996, 2007) Hungarian cup: 6 titles Nandor Szögi nandor.szogi@pickhandball.hu Facebook: pickszeged Player shirt: orange Player short: silver Goalkeeper shirt: black / red / green Player shirt: blue or red Player short: blue or red Goalkeeper shirt: black / red / green 22

23 POT 4 Orlen Wisła Płock (POL) Yet another season completed in a runner-up position. Plock s season was marked by two highlights in their European campaign as they celebrated a victory against the French powerhouse Montpellier in the wildcard knock-out matches and qualified for the Last 16, where they gave Veszprem a good run for their money in both games. However, with key players like Mariusz Jurkiewicz and Valentin Ghionea often sidelined by injuries, their domestic performance was not as impressive, as they lost not only all matches against their bitter rivals from Kielce in the regular season, but also stumbled in two away games at Kwidzyn and Azoty Pulawy. Nevertheless, they timed their top form well for the end of the season and they easily sailed past Stal Mielec in the quarter-finals and Zabrze in the semi-finals to set up a final showdown against their familiar rivals. The Oilers put up a good fight against Kielce in the finals series, losing the second game only after extra time and winning the third match before going down 3:1. Orlen Arena Pl. Celebry Papieskiej Płock Poland Capacity: 5,467 Orlen Wisła Płock Plac Celebry Papieskiej Płock Poland season): 10 Last 16 (3): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14 Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09 Qualification (1): 2012/13 EHF Cup: quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase: 2012/13 Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) Polish cup: 10 titles Piotr Raczkowski Tel: sekretariat@sprwislaplock.pl Website: Facebook: sprwisla Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: lemon green Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: orange 23

24 POT 5 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) Bothered by a series of injuries, it was a tough challenge for Flensburg to keep up with Kiel and Rhein-Neckar Löwen at the top of the Bundesliga and chase success in the VELUX EHF Champions League at the same time. Left back Lars Kaufmann, who was sidelined for the entire season was particularly missed, but still the team from the far north of the Germany did not only manage to secure a sensational win at the VELUX EHF FINAL4, but also finished third in the Bundesliga. Their final ranking was an absolutely acceptable result for head coach Ljubomir Vranjes men, not least given the circumstances, and due to their win in Cologne were granted a place in the competition for this season. Flens Arena Campusallee Flensburg Germany Capacity: 6,000 SG Flensburg-Handewitt Schiffbrücke Flensburg Germany season): 10 Winners (1): 2013/14 Final (2): 2003/04, 2006/07 Semi-final (1): 2005/06 Quarter-final (4): 2004/05, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2000/01, 2011/12 EHF Cup: Winners 1996/97 City Cup: Winners 1998/99 German league: 1 title (2004) German cup: 3 titles Sandra von Wallis s.vonwallis@sg-flensburg-handewitt.de Website: Facebook: SGFleHa Player shirt: red Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black 24

25 POT 5 Aalborg Handball (DEN) Holding on to the top of the Danish league alongside their maiden voyage took a lot of physical and mental resources in Aalborg, but still the defending champions ended up in the Danish championship final against KIF Kolding København for the second year in succession. This year, however, the outcome was very different compared to the previous. After a 23:18 defeat at home in the first leg of the final tie, Aalborg had a mountain to climb in the second match in Kolding. And even though Aalborg went into the lead a couple of times in the second half, they could not prevent a 19:17 defeat and an aggregate 42:25 defeat. season): 3 Last 16 (1): 2013/14 Group Phase (1): 2010/11 Gigantium Arena Olimpiaparken Aalborg Ost Denmark Capacity: 4,666 Danish league: 2010, 2013 Danish cup: - (2012 Supercup winner) Aalborg Håndbold A/S Willy Brandts Vej 31 DK-9220 Aalborg Øst Denmark Poul Madsbjerg pm@aalborghaandbold.dk Website: Facebook: aalborghaandbold Player shirt: Lime Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Blue Player shirt: Red Player short: White Goalkeeper shirt: Black 25

26 POT 5 HC Vardar PRO - Skopje (MKD) As expected, the fight for the Macedonian title was a two-horse race. Both Skopje rivals Metalurg and Vardar joined the domestic championship only late in the season after a preliminary round. Defending champions Vardar won the first encounter by one goal, but that cushion was quickly lost in the reverse fixture as Metalurg prevailed by nine and virtually sealed the trophy. Vardar redeemed themselves in the Macedonian Cup, where they beat their arch-rivals in the final and also in the SEHA league. While Metalurg stayed nine points short of a best four finish, Vardar not only qualified for the final tournament in Novi Sad, but also won the trophy after eliminating Zagreb in the semi-final and beating Brest Meshkov in the final. * Jane Sandanski Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,000 * under construction season): 9 Quarter-final (1): 2013/14 Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10 Cup Winners Cup: semi-final 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11, quarter-final 2006/07 SEHA league: 2 titles (2012, 2014) HC Vardar - Skopje Marko Savovski BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 FYR Macedonia Macedonian league: 8 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013) Macedonian cup: 8 titles Marko Savovski markosavovski@live.com Website: Facebook: rkvardar Player shirt: red/white Player short: red/white Goalkeeper shirt: red/black/yellow Player shirt: black/red Player short: red/white Goalkeeper shirt: black/grey 26

27 POT 5 PSG Handball (FRA) Despite being the defending champions as well as firm favourites, PSG did not manage to win the French league last season. Too many away defeats, combined with two losses to title rivals Dunkerque, relegated the Paris team to finish second. Much was expected with the arrival of a number of handball superstars last summer such as Igor Vori. However, some of them were unable to bring what was needed to the squad, perhaps explaining why the PSG lacked collective experience in the tight games. Their national cup win was the only silverware of the season and they were awarded with an additional place in the. After a quarter-final appearance last season, they hope to make it all the way to Cologne this time around, especially with the addition of veteran goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer, who has already won the competition four times. season): 3 Quarter-final (1): 2013/14 Last 16 (1): 2005/06 Halle Georges Carpentier 81 boulevard Massena Paris France Capacity: 4,800 EHF Cup: quarter-final 2006/07, Last /04 French league: 1 title (2012/13) French cup: 2 titles PSG Handball 82 avenue Georges Lafont Paris France Louise Cosnard +33 (0) lcosnard@psg.fr Website: Facebook: PSGHand Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: grey 27

28 POT 6 Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) Behind Dunkerque and PSG, Montpellier finished third, despite holding the second place for a large part of the season. But a final day defeat in Chambéry (32:35) meant that Patrice Canayer s team would finish third. If you look back at Montpellier s season, it was not a bad result after all. After having two points deducted in the middle of the season due to financial problems, the team managed to pull itself together and to win eleven games in a row, before the end of season disaster, with an EHF Cup Final defeat and the loss to Chambéry. With Dragan Gajic as top scorer of the league and the return of Thierry Omeyer in goal, Montpellier played one of the most exciting brands of handball the French league has seen for a long time and hope to carry on in that vein next season. With five Slovenian players in the team since the signature of Borut Mackovsek, Montpellier is building a team which should cause some surprises in the this season. Arena Montpellier Rue de la Foire Pérols/Montpellier France Capacity: 8,000 Montpellier Agglomeration HB Centre Jean-Paul Lacombe Centre Jean Paul Lacombe Montpellier France Suzy Demonte suzy.demonte@montpellier-handball.com Facebook: montpellierhandball season): Winners: 2002/03 Semi-final: 2004/05 Quarter-final: 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Last 16: 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2011/12 Main Round: 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase: 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13 Qualification: 2013/14 : EHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, quarterfinal 1996/97, Last /94, 1994/95 Cup Winners Cup: quarter-final 2001/02 French league: 14 titles (1995, , , ) French cup: 10 titles Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/light blue Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue 28

29 EHF Champions League Past Winners 2014 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER 2013 HSV Hamburg (GER) 2012 THW Kiel (GER) 2011 FC Barcelona Borges (ESP) 2010 THW Kiel (GER) 2009 BM Ciudad Real (ESP) 2008 BM Ciudad Real (ESP) 2007 THW Kiel (GER) 2006 BM Ciudad Real (ESP) 2005 FC Barcelona-Cifec (ESP) 2004 RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) 2003 Montpellier HB (FRA) 2002 SC Magdeburg (GER) 2001 Portland San Antonio (ESP) 2000 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1999 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1998 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1997 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1996 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1995 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP) 1994 TEKA Santander (ESP) 29

30 For further information please contact: Vladislav Brindzak EHF Media & Communications brindzak@eurohandball.com European Handball Federation Hoffingergasse Vienna Austria Tel EHF Marketing GmbH Hoffingergasse Vienna Austria Tel